B-25s to arrive for Doolittle Raiders reunion

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 07:19 PM.

Okaloosa County commissioners have agreed to spend $25,000 to bring five restored B-25 bombers to town for the 71st Doolittle Raiders Anniversary Reunion later this month.

The World War II-era planes are among 25 B-25s still flying in the United States.

Commissioners approved the funding request from the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce at their meeting Tuesday. The county will use $20,000 in bed tax revenue and $5,000 in airport marketing funds to cover the cost of the airplanes.

Chamber President and CEO Ted Corcoran told the board the planes would be “truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

The Doolittle Raiders flew B-25s on their daring bombing mission over Japan in April 1942. They had trained at then-Eglin Field.

The planes will be displayed April 17-21 at Destin Airport, where they will be available for rides and sightseeing.

“We’re going to have what we’re calling a salute to the Doolittle Raiders, a fly-by that will be occurring from Destin to the … The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island,” Corcoran said.

The Thirty Seconds over the Emerald Coast flyover will be at 6 p.m. April 19. The Boardwalk will be the prime viewing spot.

Corcoran said the planes also will perform a flyover during the Parade of Heroes scheduled for 11 a.m. April 20 along Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach.

The five planes to be brought in will be the Panchito from Deleware, Killer B from Georgia, Yellow Rose from Texas, Georgie’s Gal from Ohio and Special Delivery from Texas. Special Delivery is the only one to sport the famous Doolittle Raiders crest.

Dan O’Byrne, director of the county’s tourism development department, told commissioners his staff could easily capitalize on the presence of the B-25s to bring history buffs and other tourists to town on the weekend of the reunion.

He said his department will “immediately crank out a viral campaign to consumers who might be interested” in aviation history and World War II.

The tourism development department also will get video footage and take photographs of the aircraft and the rest of the reunion for future marketing and promotions, O’Byrne said.

Okaloosa County commissioners have agreed to spend $25,000 to bring five restored B-25 bombers to town for the 71st Doolittle Raiders Anniversary Reunion later this month.

The World War II-era planes are among 25 B-25s still flying in the United States.

Commissioners approved the funding request from the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce at their meeting Tuesday. The county will use $20,000 in bed tax revenue and $5,000 in airport marketing funds to cover the cost of the airplanes.

Chamber President and CEO Ted Corcoran told the board the planes would be “truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

The Doolittle Raiders flew B-25s on their daring bombing mission over Japan in April 1942. They had trained at then-Eglin Field.

The planes will be displayed April 17-21 at Destin Airport, where they will be available for rides and sightseeing.

“We’re going to have what we’re calling a salute to the Doolittle Raiders, a fly-by that will be occurring from Destin to the … The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island,” Corcoran said.

The Thirty Seconds over the Emerald Coast flyover will be at 6 p.m. April 19. The Boardwalk will be the prime viewing spot.

Corcoran said the planes also will perform a flyover during the Parade of Heroes scheduled for 11 a.m. April 20 along Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach.

The five planes to be brought in will be the Panchito from Deleware, Killer B from Georgia, Yellow Rose from Texas, Georgie’s Gal from Ohio and Special Delivery from Texas. Special Delivery is the only one to sport the famous Doolittle Raiders crest.

Dan O’Byrne, director of the county’s tourism development department, told commissioners his staff could easily capitalize on the presence of the B-25s to bring history buffs and other tourists to town on the weekend of the reunion.

He said his department will “immediately crank out a viral campaign to consumers who might be interested” in aviation history and World War II.

The tourism development department also will get video footage and take photographs of the aircraft and the rest of the reunion for future marketing and promotions, O’Byrne said.